Inaugural CEO Kiewit Luminarium Omaha, Nebraska
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POSITION PROFILE Inaugural CEO Kiewit Luminarium Omaha, Nebraska Image provided courtesy of HDR © 2020 ABOUT KIEWIT LUMINARIUM Kiewit Luminarium is a new, next-generation science center that joyfully LEARN MORE: engages people of all ages and backgrounds. Through programming and kiewitluminarium.org exhibits, Kiewit Luminarium sparks curiosity and inspires lifelong interest and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and opens doors for anyone and everyone to discover. A world-class learning and entertainment venue focused on STEM and located in a purpose-built 82,000 square foot facility anchoring the vibrant RiverFront development in Omaha, Kiewit Luminarium is anticipated to be one of the crowning jewels of the region and a national force in its field. Opening in early 2023, Kiewit Luminarium will be a place for everyone to explore astonishing phenomena and learn with their hands, nurturing creativity and innovation. Kiewit Luminarium will inspire and foster a diverse and skilled workforce through interactive exhibitions and engaging programs. It will incubate the region’s workforce, enhancing Omaha’s cultural, recreational and educational landscape and position the city as a center for creativity and innovation - with opportunities for everyone - that nurtures emerging engineers and scientists, and draws families, young adults, tourists, and learners of all ages and communities to its thriving institutions. CEO, Kiewit Luminarium 2 Image provided courtesy of HDR © 2020 ABOUT KIEWIT LUMINARIUM As the country emerges from a global pandemic, Kiewit Luminarium is an important investment in the future of Omaha to prepare future generations to face the challenges of the 21st century through creative thinking, lifelong learning, curiosity and inquiry, community, inclusion and respect. A Unique Initiative in a Unique Community Kiewit Luminarium is a highly anticipated, well-funded and community-supported addition to a vibrant city. The project is supported by a strong donor base and key partnerships already in place, including: • Heritage Services, the influential philanthropy organization that has been behind numerous major civic projects in Omaha over the past three decades, is close to successfully completing a $101 million capital campaign to support Kiewit Luminarium. The budget supports construction; exhibit design and fabrication; one year’s operating budget; and a $15 million endowment. • HDR, a world-renowned design firm specializing in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services, has been selected as the lead architect. • Kiewit Corporation, the global construction and engineering firm based in Omaha, is the general contractor, and officially began construction on Kiewit Luminarium in November 2020. • The Exploratorium, the acclaimed public learning laboratory in San Francisco that explores the world through science, art and human perception and whose mission is to create inquiry-based experiences that transform learning worldwide is providing key leadership in the initial phases. The Exploratorium team was selected based on its global work designing exhibits and programs in close collaboration with local communities. CEO, Kiewit Luminarium 3 Three principles will guide decision-making through the duration of the project to ensure that the mission of Kiewit Luminarium remains in clear focus. Kiewit Luminarium will nurture: A connection to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) A vibrant experience featuring inquiry-based exhibits and programs, approachable phenomena and surprising exhibits provides access points and inspiration for all types of learners. Joyful engagement A fun, entertaining destination captures diverse, multigenerational groups with children aged 6+ and K-12 students and teachers. A resilient operation Design goals create flexibility, adaptability, maintainability and long-term economic sustainability. Initial exhibits and programming of Kiewit Luminarium will explore four unique areas: Building self and community Relationships often determine success or failure in engineering and science – just as they do in people’s personal lives. Engaging visitors in the dynamic world of relationships, networks and systems is an essential part of STEM learning and workplace competence. This zone will highlight the human; how the body, mind and social behaviors structure lives and communities. Building the world Through exhibits touching on landscape, transportation, climate, industry and agriculture, visitors will explore the science, technology and engineering that continue to shape Omaha and the region. Building knowledge Exhibits will invite individuals to investigate physical phenomena like sound, motion and temperature, and then share those experiences with families and friends. Making it count Math is a fundamental component, a building block for understanding the world. It is the study of quantity, structure, shapes and change. Visitors will explore content ranging from geometry to computation to finance through full-body and hands-on experiences. Starting with joyful and accessible experience of mathematics, visitors will then be able to make connections with practical applications and everyday life. CEO, Kiewit Luminarium 4 ABOUT OMAHA The anchor of the eight-county, bi-state Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area, Omaha or UmóNhoN is translated as meaning the People that Move Against the Current, or Upstream. Everyone who has called Omaha home helped shape its current cultural diversity, hard work ethic, and friendly demeanor. Omaha is a thriving, vibrant, and attractive city that provides all the amenities of a much larger metropolitan area and yet, is family oriented with a Midwestern approach to the values of its leaders and residents. Omaha is well-known for its active civic leadership – the community does a great job of investing in itself. According to Brookings, jobs in Omaha grew 6.6% in the decade ending in 2018, with average annual wages rising 8.8%, pushing the standard of living up 10.5%. In addition, Omaha boasts an attractively low cost of living that is 19 percent less than the national average. The appeal of Omaha is evidenced by a nearly 100% growth in population since 1980. Kiewit Luminarium will be a critical part of a diverse and vibrant community with historical and cultural attractions: • World-renowned higher education: Creighton University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska Omaha, University of Nebraska Medical Center and Metropolitan Community College. • Vibrant community art & beloved performing arts and theater venues: Opera Omaha, Joslyn Art Museum, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, American Midwest Ballet, KANEKO, The Union for Contemporary Art, El Museo Latino, Omaha Community Playhouse, Film Streams, Blue Barn Theater, and Holland Performing Arts Center. • Nationally-recognized local music scene: MAHA Music Festival, Saddle Creek Records, Omaha Girls Rock, and The Slowdown. • Innovative redevelopment and equality organizations: Seventy-Five North, Empowerment Network, Inclusive Communities, I Be Black Girl, and Canopy South. • Family-friendly attractions: Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Omaha Children’s Museum, Lauritzen Gardens, Durham Museum, and Fontanelle Forest. • Thriving restaurant scene throughout Omaha’s distinct neighborhoods: Old Market, Aksarben Village, North Omaha, South Omaha, Dundee, Benson, Midtown Crossing, and Blackstone District. CEO, Kiewit Luminarium 5 ABOUT OMAHA A unique Midwestern city, Omaha is home to a dedicated and tight-knit civic, business, and creative community. The Greater Omaha Chamber is one of the country’s largest and strongest chambers of commerce. The Omaha Community Foundation is supported by more than 1,700 donors and has granted more than $1.8 billion to over 3,000 nonprofits, initiatives and funds, ranking Omaha in the top 3% in per capita giving. The city is home to four Fortune 500 companies, including Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, five Fortune 1000 companies and numerous other large corporations, a majority of which play substantial roles in the growth and support of the city. Susie Buffett's Sherwood Foundation has invested an estimated $1 billion in Omaha over the past several decades, much of which has been focused on creating a first-rate public school and early education system. Heritage Services, which initiated the $101 million capital campaign for Kiewit Luminarium, has raised nearly a billion dollars for infrastructure to revitalize the Omaha skyline. Kiewit Corporation’s Peter Kiewit established a foundation that has awarded more than $750 million in grants for capital projects and scholarships since 1979. The RiverFront Reclaiming an underutilized natural resource and a former industrial site, community leaders from Omaha and Council Bluffs are working together with government officials and stakeholders to improve both sides of the Missouri River. The redevelopment of ‘The RiverFront’ will define an achievable vision to attract residents, businesses and visitors while supporting growth and enhancing connectivity. The RiverFront will unify the community through a thoughtful, amenity-rich open space. A national team of experts developed a master plan for areas in and around Gene Leahy Mall, Heartland of America Park and Lewis and Clark Landing in Omaha. Lewis and Clark Landing will be activated by improving river access and building amenities such as a children’s play area, an urban beach, sports courts, a food truck pavilion, a marina,